Why Antarctic holidays and expeditions are truly unique

Only navigable by small ice-strengthened vessels, following the paths of European explorers of old through a landscape of sea-sculpted icebergs and crashing glaciers, this is the perfect destination for travellers who want to experience one of the world’s last truly wild frontiers.

The surface of the 7th continent covers a mind-boggling 14 million kilometres and, as you might expect from the remotest of the Earth’s continents, the conditions are foreboding.

Antarctica is wild and vast. A land of superlatives, it is the driest and windiest of all the continents, relatively untravelled by man.

Whales and birds

Why we like Antarctica

A wilderness like no other, Antarctica is just as incredible for it’s wildlife as it is for the vistas as you explore. Here you traverse wild waters, watch charismatic critters, and walk on ice never touched by man.

Exciting ways to explore

To explore Antarctica, you have to join a vessel heading that far south, or you can fly straight in. both ways are full of adventure!

Antarctica Safari Reviews

The trip was out of this world, it went well beyond my expectations and then some! From the wildlife, hospitality, logistics and people I couldn’t have wished for anything better.

Antarctica Photography Expedition

5 out of 5

Rashna A.

Our journey was amazing, as always with NWS! A once-in-a-lifetime planned trip. The experience with NWS was just fantastic - cannot fault NWS is anyway. The ground agents were more than you could ask and as usual NWS excelled in every way possible to ensure that the client came first.

Antarctica Photography Expedition

5 out of 5

Ron R.

Absolutely brilliant. The trip could not have been arranged and coordinated better between your UK office and the USA, and Tristan could not have been more supportive in getting me to Snow Hill! The adventure exceeded my expectations, Mother Nature obliging us with weather which maximised our photographic opportunities. The helicopters and their pilots who transferred us from the ship to an area near the colony put in a splendid performance throughout our visits. And I haven't forgotten the emperor penguins themselves, the raison d' être for my trip. They were absolutely engaging to watch, with a range of fluffy feathered chicks and adults with pristine plumage. Stopping and kneeling to maintain a low profile was more often than not sufficient encouragement to inspire the birds’ curiosity to pop over for a closer inspection of us – a truly rewarding experience.

The Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill

5 out of 5

Harry S.

An awesome and life-changing experience. The two weeks in Antarctica will be treasured and I certainly hope to visit that continent again in the future. NWS and their counterparts at One Expedition were helpful at every step of the way.

Antarctica Photography Expedition

5 out of 5

Jackson C.

A wonderful and amazing trip. Everything was well planned and nicely organised, with reliable arrangements and great teamwork!

Antarctica Photography Expedition

5 out of 5

Danika A.

Spectacular! Can't wait to go back. Everything was well planned, clear, safe and very enjoyable.

Antarctica Small Group Expedition

5 out of 5

Stephen B.

Excellent trip, So many natural wonders to see of course, and the staff/crew were all great.

As with our other four adventures with Natural World Safaris, it was wonderful.

Antarctica Small Group Expedition

5 out of 5

Paul B.

I loved every minute of it! The whole trip was well organised, from booking through to the actual trip. The guiding was very professional and always with an eye to protecting the wildlife and the environment to the max. All done with great humour. NWS Staff are friendly, knowledgeable and professional, which is important to me.

Wonderful, awesome, very well organised on the ship, very good presentations on photography and art, early polar exploration, the protection of Antarctica, and from the naturalists on board. The food on board was excellent and I enjoyed the trip enormously.

Antarctica Photography Expedition

4 out of 5

Tarina H.

An amazing trip, excellent crew, good food and interesting presentations.

Antarctica Photography Expedition

4 out of 5

Gareth W.

It was a most memorable and well organised trip - one of the best organised trips I have been on. Would highly recommend it. The locations we visited were amazing.

Antarctica Small Group Expedition

5 out of 5

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Amazing wildlife & incredible scenery

The elements of wind, cold and dryness all prevail here in their most extreme form but this should not be considered a deterrent, as the epic scenery and wildlife can be comfortably observed from the excellently equipped expedition ships that specialise in navigating the area. The Antarctic Peninsula itself is just under 48 hours from Ushuaia in Argentina by boat and is surprisingly mild, with temperatures of up to 15 degrees Celsius, despite having the highest average elevation of all continents. You can also fly to Antarctic mainland from Cape Town.

The range of exotic wildlife in this completely natural setting makes Antarctica completely spellbinding; loveable and comic penguins, including Emperors, Adelie, gentoo, Rockhopper and more, are found in huge numbers and may be witnessed hatching, feeding or courting depending on the time of year. Humpback, Minke, Sperm and Southern Right whales are often seen on migratory routes, while the rare Blue Whale may even be sighted on occasion. There are also a total of six different seal species, all with different characteristics and habits, and some stunning birding, with Albatross and Petrels ruling the sky.

Planning and what to expect

When planning your visit to the Antarctic timing is crucial as the visiting season is very limited, running from November through to February. During this time the sun does not dip below the horizon, casting us in an ever-ambient light. However, as soon as April comes, the area is cast into permanent darkness, making it completely unnavigable for tourists, rising around September once again. To guarantee a space in this short travel period, early booking is essential.

The ships themselves vary in standard from more basic to deluxe cabins and your time on board the expeditionary boats we work with will be anything but dull.

One of the keys to a successful trip is flexibility, as the constantly changing conditions and ice can largely dictate what happens, making a rigid plan difficult to adhere to, but adding to the sheer adventure!

Why book with us

We are destination specialists

Our team of specialists have extensive on-the-ground knowledge and have all lived, guided or explored in great detail the destinations that they sell. They will design your journey around you, at the right place at the right time.

We are wildlife specialists

As a leading specialist operator we have excellent partnerships with naturalists and conservationists. We know our wildlife and do what we can to preserve its natural habitat.

We really care about our destinations

At Natural World Safaris we frequently monitor the social, economic and environmental impact of our travel operations to ensure we are at the forefront of a sustainable and ethical tourism industry.